This year, Upper Columbia Conference launched a new approach for camp meeting.
Rather than one large event, this year UCC hosted six regional camp meetings in northeastern Washington, Spokane Valley, Tri-Cities, Walla Walla Valley, Wenatchee and Yakima.
In 2023, UCC conducted several surveys about the future of camp meeting. A key finding was that while 55% of respondents responded positively toward one large camp meeting event, when asked if they were planning on attending, only 37% responded yes.
In response, a new camp meeting plan was approved by executive committee on a two-year trial basis, beginning in 2025. This regional approach to camp meeting saw increases in local church collaboration and total attendance, significantly lowered overhead costs and a greater focus on serving communities across UCC.
Northeastern Washington’s camp meeting was held at Sheridan Meadows in Republic, Washington, where attendees enjoyed a week of fellowship and worship in nature. During the week, youth carried out daily service projects in town, giving a report of their projects on Friday night.
Spokane Valley’s camp meeting convocation chose the theme “Revealing the Character of Christ.” More than 1,300 individuals were present to hear Doug Batchelor, Amazing Facts president, speak. Church members truly gave blood and sweat to their local community in a variety of service opportunities, including a blood drive, yard work and going door to door with needs assessment surveys and Christian literature.
Tri-Cities hosted this year’s Hispanic camp meeting, with attendees from across the conference. Cecilio Clayton, Puerto Rican Union Conference evangelist; José Rojas, MOVEmentum president; and Rubén Muñoz, Andrews University biblical studies professor, were the featured speakers.
Walla Walla Valley’s camp meeting convocation chose the theme “Created for Community,” featuring Karl Haffner, Loma Linda University vice president of student experience, as the guest speaker. Local Walla Walla Valley churches gathered at Walla Walla University Church for a time of fellowship, praise and service. Attendance exceeded expectations, with almost 1,000 gathered for worship on Sabbath.
“Perhaps the most heartwarming moment for me came when nearly 20 volunteers served 21 single parents with complimentary oil changes,” said Andreas Beccai, serving as WWU Church lead pastor at the time. “Two vehicles received much-needed new brakes, and another was blessed with two new front tires. These mothers and fathers were deeply moved by this unconditional demonstration of Christ's love, freely given without expectation of anything in return.”
Wenatchee's camp meeting convocation gathered in August under the theme “On Call” with Richie Brower, UCC Serve One More associate director, as the guest speaker. Brower shared passionate stories of community engagement and finished the convocation with several service projects, a theme across this year’s regional camp meetings.
Yakima closed out the camp meeting season with a focus on mission and service.
“All told, we experienced significant growth in the number of individuals that received a blessing at the regional convocations as compared with the one large camp meeting at Upper Columbia Academy,” said Dustin Jones, UCC communications director and camp meeting coordinator. “We were also able to accomplish this at a much lower cost than what our usual camp meeting costs.”
Video recordings of UCC’s camp meetings are available at uccsda.org/campmeeting.
Doug Batchelor, Amazing Facts president, speaks at Spokane Valley camp meeting.
